He reiterated that the majority is ready to establish a parliamentary panel to look into the SP's demands. The SP insists the June general elections were "manipulated" and says the boycott will continue until an investigation is conducted.

A crack in the party surfaced Thursday when five SP lawmakers invited colleagues to quit the boycott for the sake of EU integration reforms and return to parliament next week.

US Urges Solution to Albania Political Crises

13 November 2009

U.S. Ambassador to Albania John L. Withers

US Ambassador in Tirana John L Withers called on Prime Minister Sali Berisha and opposition leader Edi Rama to find common ground and resolve the politcal row that has engulfed the country since the 28 June parliamentary elections.

“Our position (on the parliamentary boycott) is that it would really be for the best if dialogue could occur among the leading political actors to reach some sort of compromise that would end this particular stalemate,” said Withers in a statement.

“I think we all feel that not having the opposition in the parliament is not good for the country as a whole,” he noted, adding that: “We would like to see that resolved, but we think that it is absolutely vital (to understand) that this is really is a question for the Albanian political leadership to resolve (and) we hope that they can resolve it among themselves and things can go back to the way that they should be.”

The Socialist Party, headed by Tirana's mayor Rama, has boycotted parliamentary sessions ever since the new parliament was reconfigured in September, after the June poll.

Rama considers the electoral process as marred by fraud and has asked for a recount of the vote as precondition for his deputies to return to parliament. The request has been denied by the Democratic Party headed coalition of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who has argued that the courts have already given their rulings on the election results, and the government cannot circumvent their authority.

NATO and EURO-POL observing everything by electronic panel investigation in Albania. Brussels asks Tirana for new security measures and EU obligations for stability of the country

His name is Lizander Saraci, is one of the Albanian emigrant who lives from long times in Europe, annalist and opinionist in Albanian media, who often menaces member and personalities of the Greek Community of Albania, particularly journalists who have the Greek origin from Northern Epirus in Albania.

This is the last menace, only some days ago, during his comments on Albanian nationalist blogs, who claims opened for the dead of Greek journalists.This person comes and comments systematically in the Albanian nationalist media against the leader of the Albanian Orthodox Church his Eminence Anastas Janullatos organizing petitions against his stay at the top of the Albanian Orthodox Church, when this is the right of Greeks and Albanian citizen orthodox community to chose their patriarch or high represents.Anyway, NATO and EURO-POL observing everything by electronic panel investigation in Albania. Brussels asks Tirana for new security measures and EU obligations for stability of the country

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Balkans remains the EU's litmus test

By Olli Rehn

12.11.2009

The EU must continue the ‘political de-mining' of the Balkans and use lessons learnt there to develop its foreign-policy role.

For two decades, the western Balkans has been a real-life testing ground of the foreign policy of the European Union. While nobody wanted it that way, the EU's common foreign and security policy was born in the context of the Balkan wars in the 1990s. Since then, the Balkans has been the frontier for the EU's evolving foreign policy.

It was a difficult birth, and we learned hard lessons. As a result, we are today more capable of working for peace and stability.

In recent years, the European perspective has helped stabilise the western Balkans. The prospect of and conditions for joining the EU have driven democratic and economic reforms forward.

Croatia is nearing the finishing line, after four years of negotiations. We have free-trade arrangements in place with the rest of the western Balkans – the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Kosovo. We are also working to extend visa-free travel next January to the countries that have met the EU's conditions, especially the issuing of biometric passports.

Still, this progress remains fragile. Despite relative political stability in the region, there is no ‘end of history' in sight. We cannot afford to lull ourselves into complacency when facing dangerous political minefields in the western Balkans, either in the form of bilateral problems between certain countries, or domestic stalemates in others.

Therefore, we must continue what I would call a policy of political de-mining in the western Balkans. That means tackling these problems one by one, by combining the EU's soft power and classical tools of diplomacy.

We have seen some successes, such as the recent agreement on arbitration to solve the border dispute between Croatia and Slovenia, which was signed in Stockholm on 4 November. This enabled us to unblock and resume Croatia's accession talks after a long break.

Next, we want to see progress on the name issue of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The country is a positive example of the EU's gravitational pull and has performed impressively in EU-related reforms after years of stagnation. This enabled the European Commission last month to recommend opening accession negotiations with the country.

The governments in both Skopje and Athens have a fresh and strong mandate and have started to engage in serious talks. There should now be a real chance to settle this difficult bilateral issue, which has hampered progress in that corner of the region for 18 years.

Meanwhile, Bosnia and Herzegovina remains in a self-inflicted political stalemate that has dragged it backwards recently. In October, together with Sweden's Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, I met the leaders of the country on two occasions in Camp Butmir in Sarajevo to try to unblock the stalemate.

Bosnia and Herzegovina risks being left permanently behind the other countries of the region in EU and NATO integration. We offered its leaders a package of measures – including constitutional changes – that would jump-start the country's EU and NATO integration.

I hope, for the sake of their citizens and the western Balkans as a whole, that the leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina will commit themselves to a compromise that will help the country move forward. This is the last chance for the present generation of political leaders to bring the country into the European mainstream, which is deeply wanted by its citizens.

Our policy of stabilisation – sometimes also called enlargement – in the western Balkans has wider implications for the EU's foreign policy and its global role. We must learn from our experience there and apply these lessons when developing a more robust and effective foreign policy.

With the entry into force of the Lisbon treaty soon, we stand before a historic opportunity to move the EU's foreign policy and global role to a new level.

The EU's credibility as a global actor continues to rest on our ability to shape our own immediate neighbourhood. In south-eastern Europe we can make a real difference. This is where the EU's common foreign and security policy has proven its value.

Bollanos meetings during dinner hosted with V/US President Joe Biden and US Secretary Hillary Clinton

November 6, 2009

by SManalysis

WASHINGTON – The Vice President of the United States Joseph Biden and his wife hosted a formal dinner on Nov. 4, at the Vice Presidential Residence to honor His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew who during this third leg of his trip to the United States is visiting Washington, DC.

His All Holiness and the Vice President had a long and fruitful meeting immediately prior to the dinner, where issues of mutual interest were discussed including religious freedom and religious tolerance, the interreligious and intercultural dialogue initiatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the re-opening of the Theological School of Halki and the leadership role of His All Holiness for the preservation of the natural environment.

Also, a reception and dinner was held in honor of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew hosted by the Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Ben Franklin Room at the Department of State on November 5, 2009.

During the dinners the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomeow, was accompanied from high personalities of the Greek American lobby including the leader of Pan Epirotic Federation of USA Nicholas Gage, the Congressman Gus Billirakis, the President of "Omonia"Vassilis Bollanos ecct

Albania and Bosnia must catch up on reform to qualify for short-stay visa waiver, say MEPs

Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina must catch up on the reforms needed to qualify for a short-stay visa waiver like those of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, said MEPs on Thursday. The European Commission should report on the two countries' progress early in 2010, and also start a dialogue on visas with Kosovo, they added.

MEPs reiterated that the visa liberalisation dialogue places all countries on an equal footing, without any discrimination, and that the same criteria (e.g. progress in introducing biometric passports and improving border control and policing), should apply to all countries concerned. They called on Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina to adopt the reforms needed to meet the requirements in full, with the Commission's help, and asked the Commission to report back on their progress early in 2010.

The Commission had proposed that short-stay (less than three months) visa requirements be waived for FYROM, Serbia and Montenegro, but Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina did not qualify. Members said that both should catch up as soon as possible, without lowering the standards common to all. They also underlined that Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina had made further progress since the Commission published its last assessment

Albania and Bosnia should be named in both annexes I and II

MEPs propose to add Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina to the list of visa-free countries (annex II of the proposal), albeit with a footnote stating that the visa exemption would take effect only after an assessment by the Commission that the country in question meets all the benchmarks and in accordance with the procedures as provided by the Treaty. Both provisionally remain in annex I (countries whose citizens require a visa).

THE PAN EPIRIOTE FEDERATION OF AMERICA CONTINUES TO RAISE THE NORTHERN EPIRUS ISSUE TO THE US CONGRESS, SENATE AND THE WHITE HOUSE

Sucesfull visit in USA of the President of the Greek Organisation Vassilios Bollanos

While the head of Greek Minority and Mayor of Himara Vassilis Bollanos continues his successfully visit in Washington and in State Department, the propaganda of Berisha and his beniamins Spyros Kseras and others to deliberately divided the Greek factor in Albania.

The Anti Greek propaganda in Albania is shown especially noticeable after the appointment of Minister Spyros Kseras in the Berisha government, for which Berisha and Albanian media claim that now controls "Omonia", the Greek Organization.

But the facts in reality, show another picture. The Greek Lobby and especially the Pan Epiriote Federation of America is now stronger than ever, since its leader Vassilis Bollanos expected from higher levels of American policy including V/President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

According to latest news from Washington, the Republican Congressman Gus Billirakis will raise the Nortnern Epirus issue on the US Congress.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Washington USANovember , 2009

Bollanos in Washington, meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

SManalysis

Washington, November 1, 2009

Chairman of Municipality of Himara and also President of the organization "Omonia" (the Greek Ethnic Community of Albania) is visiting this week the United States of America among invited on the historic visit of Patriarch Bartholomeu in Washington. During the celebrations and meetings organized with this case, the President Bollano will have meetings with the Greek American Senator Olympia Stone and Greek American Congressman Gus Billirakis.

But special meetings he will have in this case with Himariot Lobby in USA and especially with former CIA Director George Tenet, the Pan Epiriot Federation Lobby represent Nicholas Gage and with top clerics including Orthodox Church Archbishop of America Demetrios and Patriarch Bartholomeu.

Meanwhile sources from Washington, have confirmed for SManalysis that Vassilis Bollanos will have an important meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and senior officials of administration of State Department. The meeting is mediate under the intervention of George Tenet, a personal friend of the family of Former President of USA Bill Clinton.

Photos: Rep. Cong. Gus Billirakis, The President Clinton with George Tenet, Nicholas Gage

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- Tensions between the Albanian government and the opposition Socialist Party (SP) reached Brussels on Tuesday (November 10th), where a delegation from Tirana was reporting on issues related to Albania's visa liberalisation process and EU integration. Foreign Minister Ilir Meta presented reforms undertaken by the government and preparations for the completion of a questionnaire regarding the country's EU accession processes. "Albania will fulfil all of its duties regarding the visa liberalisation with the EU and will strengthen co-operation with the European Parliament," said Meta after meeting with Nikolaos Chountis, rapporteur for Albania.

Meta added that the government will meet all of the opposition's demands, as long as this does not interfere with court decisions or judicial independence. In effect, this means rejecting the SP's request to open disputed ballot boxes from the June general elections. SP Secretary for Foreign Affairs Arta Dade, who was also in Brussels, insisted there is no law against investigating election results. SP lawmakers have been boycotting parliament sessions for weeks, demanding a thorough investigation of the elections.

Separately Tuesday, Interior Minister Lulzim Basha asked police to step up their efforts in order to meet visa liberalisation criteria set by the EU. During a meeting with senior state police officials, he announced the continuation of reforms aimed at better results in fighting organised crime, corruption and financial crimes.

With the campaigning in main opposition New Democracy (ND) in full swing in the run-up to the November 29 election for a new party leader, former health minister and past Athens mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos, who recently pulled out of the race for the party leadership, on Tuesday announced that he was putting his backing behind former culture minister Antonis Samaras, one of the three remaining candidates for the ND presidency. The other two candidates are former foreign minister and one-time Athens mayor Dora Bakoyannis, and current Thessaloniki prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis.

Avramopoulos announced his decision in a joint appearance with Samaras.

"I stand at his side and back his candidacy," Avramopoulos said, adding that "the selection of Antonis (Samaras) leads to greater cohesion, secures the unity, of a party of institutions and principles, of an open party with a democratic operation".

Avramopoulos said that some cadres had "greatly and deeply hurt" the party's voters "and we need to bring them back", and criticised past attitudes, "personal mechanisms" and "behind-the-scenes operations" that cost the party dearly.

He said his decision "has nothing to do with personal sentiments and bargaining".

"ND is one, and united. The needs of the times demand policies that do not stand on individuals. They require unanimity, solidarity and common work," he added.

Avramopoulos further said that his proposal for the election of the party leader by the ND grass roots had been "a first step for an open democratic party without personal mechanisms", adding his belief that "we need to select a politician with political terms, and I agree with Antonis Samaras that we must convince the voters who left to return with our attitude and our work".

Referring to the center field of the political spectrum, Avramopoulos explained that this was not a geographical concept but is determined with political characteristics.

Samaras, in turn, warmly welcomed Avramopoulos' decision, adding that, at the ND extraordinary congress held last weekend, which opened the vote for the party leader to the entire body of the ND registered members, "we proved that our unity is not in danger, and we will turn this unity into a hope for victory".

Tadić's visit to Greece precedes his visit to Rome where he will confer with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano on November 12, the release says.

One day later, Tadić will head a Serbian government delegation to the Serbian-Italian summit.

From Rome, he will travel to Berlin to confer with Chancellor Angela Merkel on November 16.

That meeting will be "one of the first" Merkel will have with foreign statesmen since her re-election, it was announced.

The top-level talks in Athens, Rome and Berlin are part of Tadić's endeavors for securing EU countries' support to the forthcoming EU decisions on visa liberalization and Serbia's integration process, the statement concluded

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Fotios Malo, 82, who fled communist Albania, was a champion of freedom

By Andrew Meacham, Times Staff Writer In Print: Wednesday, November 11, 2009

CLEARWATER — In 1971, Fotios Malo escaped with his family from communist Albania, something he had been trying to do all his adult life.

A year later, a boat carrying Mr. Malo, 44, and 31 extended family members sailed past the Statue of Liberty, a sight his children recall with amazement.

The New York Times covered the feel-good story on Page 1. But all was not well for extended family members who had stayed behind in Albania. Everyone had heard about the family that escaped to Greece on a fishing boat. Embarrassed authorities rounded up relatives and sent them to work on government-owned farms.

Mr. Malo, who died Sunday at 82, spent the rest of his life amassing a fortune in restaurants and the stock market, then sending money and goods to his family in Albania.

He was short in stature, dark and intense. He championed freedom and gave money to Republican candidates such as Ronald Reagan, who invited Mr. Malo to his inaugural ball. His anti-communist sentiments included a dimension few Americans could share — that of a disillusioned former soldier for communist causes.

He was born into a Greek family in Himara, Albania, and grew up in a tiny and ancient house in a densely packed neighborhood between mountains and the Ionian Sea. At 13, he joined an uncle in the mountains, fighting with communist partisans against the German occupiers.

The communists took over the country in 1944. The new authorities immediately confiscated private property, including 400 olive trees belonging to Mr. Malo's parents.

"Instead of owning the land, they became day laborers for the Albanian government," said Eleonora Mihopoulos, Mr. Malo's daughter. "He said, 'This wasn't what I fought for.' "

Two events, both in 1948, defined the course of the rest of his life. Mr. Malo married his childhood sweetheart, Alexandra Joshi. He also went to jail for three years, first for his politics and then for trying to flee the country.

He moved to the capital city of Tirana on his release, and spent the next 20 years trying to escape. He studied boxing and acting and hung out with opera singers, hoping for a chance to reach another shore and defect. He repaired sewing machines, sold art on the black market and illegally watched Greek television for his news.

On Aug. 7, 1971, the entire extended family packed into a commercial fishing boat captained by his brother, Vasil Malo, and escaped to Greece. A year later, most of the clan went to New York.

Mr. Malo worked at night as a Macy's janitor and ran a hot dog stand during the day. He saved enough money to buy a pizza parlor in the Bronx.

Though he struggled with English all his life, Mr. Malo excelled at the stock market. "Honest to God, he could read the stock pages better than a Harvard graduate," said Mihopoulos, 58, a restaurateur who owns Kally-K's Steakery Fishery in Dunedin.

Mr. Malo's Albanian relatives, meanwhile, were living in poverty. The man the family called "Papou" shipped them cash and appliances, everything from televisions to washing machines and cars. Over the years, Mr. Malo made it possible for about 50 of his relatives and friends to leave Albania for the United States.

In 1975, Mr. Malo bought the Tower of Pizza restaurant in Key Largo. He turned the restaurant over to his children in 1980 and retired. Fulfilling his American dream had taken less than a decade.

The fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago this week filled him with relief. "He was so happy," Mihopoulos said. "He said, 'Now this is the beginning of the new world.' "

Biography

Fotios Malo

Born: Feb. 10, 1927.Died: Nov. 8, 2009.

Survivors: Wife, Alexandra; son, Dionis and his wife, Theodora; daughters, Eleonora Mihopoulos and her husband, Alexander, Christina Lappas and her husband, Michael; brothers, Vasil and his wife, Kristina, Pandeli and his wife, Vasillo; sisters, Niki Kristo and her husband, Taqo, Marika Kolilas; six grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Monday, November 9, 2009

EC Urges Albania to Speed Up Visa Reforms

Tirana | 09 November 2009 |

EC Building

EU officials in Brussels urged Albania on Monday to hasten the reforms necessary to lift the current visa requirements for its citizens, in order no to miss on the next wave of visa liberalisation in the Balkans.

“You help us, we will help you,” was the message of the general director of emigration and asylum in the Jan Louis De Brouwer, for Albanian Foreign Minister Ilir Meta.

According to De Brouwer, Albania had made signification efforts in implementing legislation necessary for visa liberalisation road map, but efforts to implement the changes must be strengthened.

“This process is clear, objective and transparent,” added De Brouwer.

On 15 July 15, the European Commission proposed that three western Balkan states: Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, be included in the Schengen visa-free scheme.

While only Macedonia has met all benchmarks, Serbia and Montenegro were also granted entry into the visa liberalisation regime.

Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina were excluded from the first wave due to their lack of progress on technical requirements. Citizens of Kosovo who have Serbian passports also cannot enjoy visa-free travel to the Schengen countries, though the same is not true for citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who also have Serbian citizenship and Serbian biometric passports.

The European Parliament has criticised the recommendation to exclude Bosnia from the first wave of invitations.

The Berisha Government claim his new political action against Himara. "Livadhi Beach" will demolish even the buildings are constructed on the rights properties

In Himara there are high represent of Socialist Party to support the rights of properties, all natives are from greek old origin member of "Omonia" OrganisationHimara inhabitants: This is the new action of "Ethnic Cleansing" against people of Himara after Jali village demolished by the Albanian Government.

The Municipality Council of Himara has decided in a meeting made last week that the people of Himara will resist against any escalation from Albanian authorities which times ago have decided to demolish the Livadhi Beach, localized in north of Himara town.They are about 50 families that are in conflict with Albanian authorities and the World Bank Project to construct touristic villages after demolished their owner houses. "Never, said a native, the government authorities have spoken with Municipally of Himara, which according them have requested authorities to legalise their homes on private properties, but they have selected to destruct only the houses apparent to member of Omonia, not others".

According to newspaper "Korrieri" a team of Socialist Party represent all member of Albanian parliament will arrive in Himara today to speak with inhabitants of Himara. For the ulterir escalation in Himara, "Korrieri" notes that the government action to Himara People, could bring dangerous consequences particularly to an ethnic discrimination systematicaly process against people of Himara who have classified the government action as precedent of an "Ethnic Cleansing", which never has been seen since the Dictator Regime of Enver Hoxha.

One week ago on the houses of people of Himara where raised the greek flags as in memorial ceremony of "OXI DAY" which remember the Greek people resistance against Italian fascist invasion of Musolini to Greece in 1940.

For govenrment action against Himara, the people of Himara has informed the Greek government and other international institutions represent in Tirana including OSCE, NATO, US Embassy and EU.

Photos:A himariot house with Greek flag during "OXI DAY" anniversary, October 28, 2009.A protest for properties of Himara Organizations, Himara, July 10, 2008

Sunday, November 8, 2009

After blocking from the Albanian parliament the agreement for sea borders and continental shelf, the Albanian Greek relationship begannew diplomatic crisis which resemble the early of 20th century.

A deal between Greece and Albania that aimed to settle a longstanding disagreement between the two countries over their sea borders and continental shelf rights could be scuppered by a legal challenge being mounted by opposition parties in Tirana, last October.

The agreement, signed in April by then Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and his counterpart Sali Berisha, was due to be ratified by the country’s parliament on November.

However, Socialist opposition leader Edi Rama says the deal, which enforces a clear delineation in the Ionian Sea, lacks transparency and damages Albania’s sovereignty. Six parties are due to file an appeal with the country’s Constitutional Court to stop the accord being approved.

The Socialists’ campaign is seen as part of a wider effort to challenge Berisha’s government, which the opposition claims won June’s parliamentary elections thanks to voting irregularities.

RAD Background Report/152(East-West Relations)3 September 1987LIFTING OF THE GREEK-ALBANIANSTATE OF WAR

by Louis Zanga

Summary: The "state of war" that has existedbetween Greece and Albania since 1940 hasfinally been revoked by an act of the Greekcabinet. This formality now opens the way for acomplete normalization of relations betweenthese two neighboring countries, a process thatbegan in 1971 with the establishment ofdiplomatic relations between Athens and Tirana.

* * *

Athens's decision to end its de jure "state of war" withAlbania is the final hurdle on the way to full normalization ofrelations between the two countries.1 The decision is a majorsuccess for Albanian diplomacy and an important step in Tirana'semergence from its long period of self-imposed isolation. Thestate of war between the two countries was a anachronism fromthe Second World War and was symbolic inasmuch as the two sidesre-established diplomatic relations in 1971 and have greatlyimproved relations generally, particularly in the past fewyears. Still, the step taken by the Greek cabinet is animportant decision that has already been welcomed by bothsides.2

A Brief History. In April 1939 Albania was invaded byFascist Italy, and King Victor Emmanuel took the title of Kingof Albania. The country was turned into a province of Italy andwas intended to serve as a base for an Italian attack on Greece,which took place in October 1940. By early December the Italianarmies had been driven back into Albania, and the Greek forcestook over about half the country. The Italians regained theirposition only when the Nazis overran both Greece and Yugoslaviain April 1941.

The Italo-Greek war resulted in an embitterment ofGreek-Albanian relations that was to last for almost a half acentury. When his country was attacked, Greek Prime MinisterYanis Metaxas said that the Greeks were fighting not only todefend their country but also to liberate Albania. In theirmoment of triumph, however, the Greek forces are said by someobservers to have acted less like liberators than conquerors whohad come to secure the return of large Albanian provinces toGreece.

A purely Greek administration was set up in Korce,Gjirokaster, and other occupied areas. The original Albanianenthusiasm for the advancing Greeks diminished greatly when itbecame apparent that the Greek government of the day was, infact, reviving its old claim on southern Albania (the so-calledNorthern Epirus), which had been rejected in the peacesettlement of 1919.3 The issue was to poison relations betweenthe two countries for many years to come.

The Friendship Greek Albania Agreement of 1996The main general Agreement between Greece and Albania is the Friendship,Cooperation, Good Neighbourliness and Security Agreement signed on21st March 1996, (ratified by Law 2568/ Government Gazette A8/13.1.1998).

Le Monde Diplomatic

Independence for Kosovo: the domino effect

Whatbordersfor Albania?

by Jean-Arnault DérensLe Monde Diplomatic

In 1878 at the Congress of Berlin the German chancellor Bismarck declared that Albania was no more than “a geographical expression”. In the same year, however, influential delegates from the Albanian regions of the Ottoman empire gathered to found the League of Prizren, establishing the first modern claims to national status. Austria-Hungary defended the Albanian claims in the years that followed, in a standoff with Serbia and Greece who had entered alliances with Great Britain, France and Russia.

Ismail Qemal proclaimed a first, and ephemeral, Albanian republic at Vlora in 1912. But a year later the London Peace Conference created the Kingdom of Albania over only half of the regions with Albanian populations. The treaty also split Kosovo (predominantly Albanian) between Serbia and Montenegro. The Albanians have never accepted the prejudice to their people, and today its nationalists are intent on “rectifying” the “historical injustice”.

It is true that there was little guarantee of a future for the state of Albania at the time. It almost disappeared in the first world war, and there was no real settlement on its borders until the treaty of 1926, which was based on doubtful logic. The town of Gjakovë/Gjakova, for example, became part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, despite the small size of its Serbian population. Similarly, territory that had always been part of the important municipality of Debar/Dibra was shared between the kingdom and Albania; today the city is part of the Republic of Macedonia, although its traditional hinterland lies in Albania (around the town of Peshkopi).

There are two issues intertwined here. The delicate balance between Albania’s neighbours (Montenegro, Serbia and Greece) and their powerful protectors had an influence on the definition of Albanian territoriality, as did Italy’s historical claims over the Albanian coastline. Also there are the problematic notions of an “Albanian region” or “Albanian cultural area”. Albanians have always lived in the midst of other national communities in these areas. Can we say that this or that town is part of the Albanian world because 50%, 60% or 80% of its inhabitants are Albanian? What percentage do we take and, more particularly, what scale of settlement do we include?

NOVI SAD -- The Vojvodina assembly has adopted the legal-technical harmonization of the statute draft with the draft law for transferring authorities to the province.

Vojvodina assembly meeting (Beta)

105 assembly officials voted, with 84 voting for and 20 voting against the draft, which was initially adopted in October of last year. One present assembly official did not vote.

Both the Vojvodina League of Social Democrats and the Forward Serbia MP group did not participate in the voting.

Vojvodina Executive Council President Bojan Pajtić said that he expects that the Vojvodina statute and the law for transferring authorities will receive strong support from the state parliament.

“With this, officials representing a vast majority of Vojvodina citizens have chosen to further the process of decentralization and the regionalization of the society,” Pajtić said, adding that these processes are needed to speed up economic development, and to create a faster, cheaper and more effective administration not only in Vojvodina, but in the entire country.

Serb Radical Party (SRS) and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) officials have strongly criticized the statute and its accompanying laws, stating that they are unlawful, unconstitutional and aim to break apart the unity of the Serbian state.

The Vojvodina assembly’s Committee for Regulations will put together a final version of the statute draft and submit it to the state parliament for confirmation.

The Panepirotic Federation of America vehemently condemns the brutal destruction by Albanian authorities on August 26 of a Greek Orthodox Church in the Chimara region of the former Communist nation that once prohibited all forms of religious worship. The Church of St. Athanasius in the town of Drymades, known in Albanian as Dhermi, was completely destroyed by government agents acting on the authority of Albania’s Interior Ministry.

Petitioning European Council

The land in Himara belongs to the people of Himara! Land and property registration NOW! Signe now this petition to the European Councile, for the registration of properties to the only and single eligible owner: the PEOPLE of Himara.

Himara Community of USA, Addresses Himarra Property Issues with US State Department / Ambassador

The Honorable John F. Kerry Secretary of State U.S. Department of State Dear Mr. Secretary: We are writing to inform you of issues affecting United States citizens who have vested interests in the municipality of Himarra, Albania, and to express our concern about their long outstanding and unresolved problems regarding property rights. Over 1500 US citizens of Himarrioton descent are disenfranchised of their rights to the ownership of their family properties which were confiscated in 1945 by the communist regime. They have been attempting to claim their family properties since the end of the communist period without success due to the laws and policies of the Albanian government which a) fail to address ownership rights of pre-1945 landowners, b) fail to address the rights of owners who were forced to emigrate to the United States for economic or political reasons, and c) fail to address the rights of those with dual citizenship who have attempted to claim their properties as Albanian citizens.

Opinion - Kisha Autoqefale dhe Greqia! (14 tetor 2013)

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Officially: Omonoia, In Albania over 300.000 Greeks declared

30 % or 86,000, are declared electronically and this process includes 85 % of the members of the Greek minority Vlora Prefecture is the mostly populated by Greeks, there are about 90. 000 Greeks. TIRANA - Democratic Union of the Greek Ethnic Minority, Omonoia publishes the results of the census of members of the Ethnic Greek Community, organized by it structures. The Prime Census, was the decision of the General Council of the organization as members argued for exclusion of the Greek minority in the months Census October 2011, organized by the Institute of Statistics .

The history of elections of the Albanian dictator, to terrorize the people of Himara

A special Edition by SManalysis December 2, 1945: The Himariotes, abstaining from communist referendum, as happens usually for Himara the Albanian historians, never wrote this tragic history. Nikos Koutoulas, who boldly told the special communist court: "I'm Greek . I do not know Albanian, get me a interpret!" Still now, Albania never hold free politic elections, including Himara Municipality

Albanian Writer Raises Storm in Kosovo

Kosovo officials have rounded on Albanian writer Fatos Lubonja for saying that the political elites in both countries turned a blind eye to the crimes of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA. Besar Likmeta BIRN Tirana Albanian writer Fatos Lubonja In the article published in the May edition of the magazine Sudosteuropa, Lubonja focused on the reaction of Albania’s political class to the acquittal of the former KLA commander and Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj by the Hague Tribunal. Lubonja wrote that following Haradinaj’s release, the elite in Pristina and Tirana celebrated him as a hero, despite having enough information that the charges brought by prosecutors in the Hague were correct.

As long as human rights and civil liberties are violated in Himara Region primarily property, Greec

Himara Associations: Athens to block the status of Albania, if Tirana, does not solve the property issue Two associations based in Himara, "The Himara Community" and "Sea Coastal Association" have asked in a statement distributed to the media this afternoon that Greece "should block the candidate status for Albania" if Tirana, will not solve the problems of Human Rights and particularly the issue of the properties in Himara Region. The statement takes into consideration the visit Tirana following day of E.Venizelos the Greek Deputy Prime Minister also heads the Presidency of the European :

Albania minorities object to territorial division

Albania's civil society is calling on officials to diffuse tensions and protect minorities from discrimination and potential violence as a result of the decision to scrap the existing municipalities and create a new territorial administration. The government reduced the 384 local government units to 65, effectively creating entirely Albanian-majority municipalities. Greek, Macedonian and other minority representatives said the government's move violates their rights and international norms.

Poll: Albania, the most racist country in Europe

An international survey data from the World Value Survey collected and processed by the Washington Post reveals that Albania is the most racist country in Europe and worldwide more racists. The survey attempts to make a connection between economic development and being tolerant inside a society with ethnic crashes.. Thus, the most tolerant countries in the world are the Nordic countries, Great Britain and some of its former colonies, the United States, Canada and Australia. Countries with high tolerance are also in Latin America, where Venezuela exception.

Fatos Lobonja: Albania needs formatting not to rebirth

Fatos Lobonja, in an interview for the program "PULS" the KohaVision in Kosovo, there appeared criticism of developments in Albania. According Lubonja Albanians as a society still can not be consolidated. The reasons, according to him, are corrupt Albanian political elites on all sides, inside and abroad. He said they did not thirst for power leaves organize and move forward. Edi Rama's arrival at the head of government, according Lubonja, will not change the image of Albania, because Rama is associated with the oligarchs and organized crime. " He should answer that elite and non-citizens of Albania ", Lobonja estimates.

Nicholas Gage: Athens to give soon the Greek citizenship for thousand north epiriotes

World Council delegation of Epirus Abroad, meeting with the Ministry of Interior for the vote of northern epiriotes and the resolve the pension problem The visit of Nicholas Gage, is considering as the latest diplomatic effort of USA lobbing, for implementation of the "Protocol of Corfu" agreement, between Albania and Greece, based on the ulterior escalation in Balkan region. The Delegation of the World Council of Foreign Relation of Epirus (PSIE) headed by the Honorary President Nicolas Gkatzogianni, had a working meeting with the Greek Interior minister Stylianidis and v/ minister Syrigos.

Himariotes, lobbying in USA, for Autonomy

A group of people of Himara, with American citizenship, are lobbying to the US Congress and the State Department, that the Himara Region, receive the right for autonomy, according to international historical right to his self-determination. Proposed to merge all associations operating in USA, Greece and Albania, to be united in a single purpose: Autonomous Himara, Movements in the Balkans geopolitical, Mitrovica case, cutting pension from Greece, scarce public investment, robbery and illegal registration of property, etc., have raised a great concern, as never in the recent relationship of Himara, Albanian and Greek state relationship.

Pyrros Dimas, meeting with the Greek Minister of Labour, for problem of pensions to the Northern Ep

- Initiative of MP of PASOK, Pyrros Dimas for preparing and drafting a legislative proposal in collaboration with representatives of the Northern Epirus organizations. - The Minister agreed on the need to find a solution and urged the Member to develop concrete proposals, and that after consultation with the Secretary of the New Republic, Manolis Kefaloyiannis will be submitted jointly to the Minister of Finance.

"Kakome Case" again to the Albanian Tribunals

The Greek Community continues to "constant war" with the Albanian government to protect property. The apathy of Athens, to respond to the robbery of the properties in just the time, that OSCE, under the process of the registration of property in Ionian Coast, from European taxpayers, without any trasparence, is favoring according to Albanian law, alienation of property, of the Greek community , with the false documents.

Berisha: albanophobia threatens inter region

Berisha: "We must accept that they are the only people who live in 5 states. A nation that is unjustly divided into 5 states, a nation that wants to look to a common future. But again albanophobia is still in action " Albanian Prime Minister for the second time, threatening Greece, claiming that Albanians in Greece, should join the Albanian state.

NORTHERN EPIRUS THROUGH THE CENTURIES(LECTURE OF VASILIOS KYRANIS, Harvard University -1981) AL

Christos Pappas, in an interview with Arthur Zhei, News 24 TV

Pappas: "Northern Epirus is a region that holds arbitrary from Albania, as recognized by the great powers, the Protocol of Corfu. The Law of War against Albania, can not remove from Papoulias nor Greek parliament, but the Greek army is ready to liberate the Northern Epirus, again

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After a life threatening message to Archbishop Janullatos

42 Orthodox clergy against census and Red & Black Alliance: Janullatos has not afraid of death 42 Tirana archdiocese Orthodox clergy have reacted with a joint statement in defense of Anastasios Yannoulatos. Their attitude comes after strong reactions against the Red & Black Alliance, for Archbishop and after a census that sees Orthodox in third place in terms of religion in the country.

Albania: 100 years, Berisha plays 'great Albania' trump card

In Tirana Albanian leaders, tensions with Macedonia 28 November, 10:49 (ANSAmed) - TIRANA, NOVEMBER 28 - Albania's black and red national flag with a double-headed eagle is waving across the country which is celebrating today its 100th anniversary of independence in a tense political climate. The centre-right Premier Sali Berisha has been calling for days for an ethnic-national unification of all Albanians living in different Balkan states, in efforts to revive a strong nationalism which is rejected by Albania's opposition.

The Official Site of The Himara Community

CONTINUES THE DEBATE IN WASHINGTON D.C. FOR THE PROPERTY RIGHTS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS FROM NORTHERN

According to the Greek organisation of Albania estimates there are thousands of Greek American citizens from Northern Epirus (Southern Albania) which is refering the Journalist Lambros Papantoniou, asking the Spokesman of State Department for the rights of American citizens with Greek origin to take their properties in Southern Albania. Papantoniou is refereeing a Memo between Albanian State and USA about the civil rights especially for the properties of American citizens who are interested to take them according to Albanian Constitution and laws the properties of family generation. This is the second debate of the veteran Journalist for Balkan Issues in State Department Lambros Papantoiou who accuses over all the Sali Berisha Regim in Albania supported by the President Bush.

A Response to AFP

SManalysis Orthodox churches of Albania, are Byzantine churches, belong to the property of the population of Epirus.....

Avramopoulos`s speach during NATO meeting

Greece threatens Albania blocking the integration process after Berisha's statements Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, has expressed his concern at the NATO ministerial meeting about rising tide of nationalism in Albania and premature declarations of the government. In a press release the Greek Foreign Ministry said that "the growth of nationalism and populism in some of our neighboring countries is a source of great concern."

The U.S. talk of "change of borders in the Balkans"

Message-warning sent to Albania by the U.S. representative to the State Department, which in a statement said that any change of borders in the Balkans "would be counterproductive and destabilizing," but the issue is that for the first time put the U.S. even and negative mood on any change of borders in the Balkans ...

INUK në Vlorë, pronarët: Me dokumenta të rregullta dhe leje ndërtimi

ENIKOS.GR

GREEK NEWS FROM NIKO`S BLOG

PREMIUM, THE GREEK TRASFORMATION

The "Kissinger Plan": Confederations Macedonia, Epirus, Thrache,

THE BIG CHANGE IN PERIVOLO, DRYMADES, HIMARA REGION

Dhermi, (Drymades, Himara Region) between natural beauty and destruction Look at those videos, before in 2010, everything natural and in 2012 the differences, the big changes how are divided Mafia plots, see whose investments are shown, with the camera of a sportsman parachute, in Long Beach "Perivolo" in Dhrymades, the Himara Region. Look at how this summer 2012, the Concessions of Mafia provided by The Himara Counsil Municipality and the Government of Albania, have become a reality. The Sand Beach Drymades, is transformed in the sidewalks and kiosks. See how they are transformed Dhermi, in a few years, in an administrative center, disrupting also balance the religious and ethnic composition of himariotes.

Robert Elsie: If I would live in Albania, it would be crazy. It is the same as in Ottoman times

After known albanolog Milan Shufla, Robert Elsie is the best conteproranean albanian albanolog in the World During his intereweu on "Top Channely TV, Robert Elsie, on his first interview on TV. expresed his story about Albanian and Albanian state in 100 years. An interesting tale scholar known for his work difficulties in view of the Albanian language. Elsie, who knows Albanians for years, amounts to a chilling conclusion. He says he will not ever live in Albania, as it will go mad. "I can not live here. It's a little wild for me, the relationships between people are a bit wild. I know that is just a facade that inside have good spirit, but have a rabies in human relations. You know how to protect yourself here, and here I am like a rabbit, he can not defend myself. I come here with pleasure, but do not believe they can afford to come and live here forever. There is much frustration of everyday life. Life is too short and I do not have time to bump into obstacles, only to achieve something, when in another country and get away and then live my life, "said Elsie to Albanian. And while Enver Hoxha's Albania as compared with that of Sali Berisha, adds: "There is something that depends only on the party, it's more the attitude of the people. So to get something going, you have to know someone in the Ministry, to drink coffee with, then drink coffee again next week with even a third time, and then he connects with the person that you are interested . That is the same as in Ottoman times, not like a normal country. ".

Separatists gaining ground in Europe

Greece, is going to Plan B: grant for 600 thousand Greek citizenship, at the Consulates

Failure of the Census in Albania, apparently, has forced Athens, put in place, going to Plan B to its foreign policy, grant citizenship to all Hellenic Community of Northern Epirus (Greek passports) through three Greek consulates in Albania. According to “The Albanian newspaper Gazeta Shqiptare”, in a statement issued by the Greek Consul in Argjirokaster, Nikolaos Kotroxois, will begin soon, giving the Greek passports to Albanian citizens of Greek descent, who have applied for years. The decision is taken, after Athens, has used all diplomatic sources to have to Tirana, the same wavelength, particularly in geopolitical matters, particularly Kosovo. In his statement, the Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Dimas, noted, that Tirana, continues to show towards Greece, feeling not sincere cooperation, while simultaneously calling for the right to self-determination of the Greek community in Albania.

BERISHA: GREATER ALBANIA, WE LOST TERRITORIES

he Albanian Prime Minister held a meeting with Prishtina University students, in which he argued why he is against the unification of Albania with Kosovo and why both countries would lose, if borders would be changed. “The vital interest of the Albanians is to preserve the current borders, and the Albanians should not accept, at any cost, to lose a single square meter of the land they are entitled to. Another redraw of the borders would mark undeserved losses of the Albanian territories. We must be patient, free, and should not undertake any action that threatens territorial losses. Every generation has to make its duty, and this generation made it”, Berisha declared.

Dimas:"The Greek ethnic Community in Albania has the right of free of charge self-determination"

The reliability of the results of population census in Albania, in terms of minority groups, directly challenging the foreign minister Stavros Dimas, diaminyontas same time that the Respect for human and minority rights is … crucial criterion for the progress of the accession method of our neighbor. In a letter sent to the Home in response to a question from a Member of LA.OS K. Aivaliotis, Dimas says that “the foreign ministry has closely followed all the developments surrounding the census in Albania, even though produced timely plays, both bilateral and European level to make sure the integrity process and unimpeded registration of members of the Greek National Minority, and each location of residence of such ». As outlined, the “Selection of the representatives of the main minority groups, including the Greek National Minority, invite their members to abstain in protest not guaranteed to respect the right of free of charge self-determination, showed a significant deficit of trust minority in the Albanian state, which ought to itself the Albanian government to address priority ».

The Constitutional Court Decision on December 1, the Latter abolished the term Ethnic certificate of Its Citizens. In the Decision, panels argues why the notion of "nationality" is incompatible with the constitution When Its state charter law does not provid a clear definition of Its meaning. In Assessing the Court, "nationality" as defined concept without, unlike Other components of civil law does not Create a link that 'translates the Mutual rights and duties of Natural Persons and state.

While the total population in Himara Municipality, does not exceed 12 thousand inhabitants, a source from the prosecution of Vlora, shows that the problems of ownership at the squirrels region have reached the 7500 court proceedings and special investigations, which marks a world record, by how a country like Albania, could not manage the right of ownership, in one of the areas attacked by the Albanian mafia and international. However, the U.S. Department Report for 2004 on human rights in Albania, states clearly that in the Himara Municipality, the community lands and the Orthodox Church, was robbed by a Courts with false documents, supported by the Office of Propetry Registration in Albania.

Arben Puto: Albania has declared war against Greece first

In his book "The Italian Greek War", Arben Puto, well known historian of the era of dictatorship in Albania, writes that: "In a unanimous decision of the Albanian Parliament on July 15, 1940, was ratified, the Italian Fascist royal decree, which declared all war allies France and Britain, including the USA and Greece. So need to Albanians, to be aware that Greece was not declared war Albania, but Albania, with military battalions that attacked Greece on 28 October 1940 ".

WB returns to Ionian Riviera residence reconstruction

Another World Bank project is being executed with the help of the Albanian authorities for the reconstruction of the residences in Albania’s southern coastline. The 625.000 USD project aims to protect and promote the values of the Albanian national architecture in the Southern part of the country, in order to prevent destruction and abandonment of the traditional houses. “Shqip” newspapers says that the Ministry of Public Works is the WB partner in the “Roofs and Facades” project. The implementation of the program has started in the villages classified as participators: Dhermi i Vjeter, Qeparo i Vjeter, Ilias, Vuno, Himare e Vjeter, Piqeras, Nivice and Luksht. The World Bank will finance 70% of the restauration cost, with a maximum of 7000 USD, while the program “Accommodation and Breakfast” will finance 50 of the restoration cost, with a maximum of 5,000 USD. The program “Roofs and Facades” aims to restore 72 houses in 18 months. 20 of them will adopt with the conditions of modern life, in the framework of the program “Accommodation and Breakfast”.

In Albania, at 20 years post-dictatorship, 8 thousands murders, for the issue of property

The shocking data, are given by the Prosecutor General, to the Albanian press Shocking facts which, in the wake of Albania rank Civil War, the high level of killings, including the year 1997 Through the Albanian press, Attorney General, has published shocking facts about the increasing number of murders in Albania, especially for issues of ownership. Clic on photo ....

Himara 26 centuries, a history of glorious Independence

HIMARA, THE NEXT MONTE CARLO`S IN EPIRUS

First step to Greater Albania: Kosovo Opens First Highway Section

A 38 kilometre-tranche of the road, which will eventually cross the country from the Albanian to Serbian border, was opened on Saturday. The first section, which runs from Vermica on the Albanian border to close to the town of Suhareka, cost 330 million euro. Senior Kosovo and Albania government officials were present at the inauguration ceremony. In a speech, Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga said that the "highway has the role of linking nations and countries". "It is our link with important European corridors. Our coordinated policy will make us a free and equal members of the European Union," she added. Named the "Ibrahim Rugova Highway", after Kosovo's most famous president, the road connects with Albania's first highway, which was also built by the Turkish-American consortium Bechtel-Enka.

George Goro: Registration of properties on the southern coast of Albania faces difficulties

The process of registration of property in southern coastal areas of Albania is getting quite difficult. Mayor George Himara Goro says it has so far only completed the registration of houses and land but not land. Problems with documentation and the implementation of the Land Law difficult, according to him, residents in this process.

The Monument of Independence of Albania, is in hassle

PDIU Cam Community Party, the Socialist Party's local leader in Vlora, and "Red & Black Alliance", are making a nationalistic competition, the Monument of Independence and the Albanian national flag. Few days ago, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, said the establishment of a new monument to the independence of Albania in Tirana, implying, dismiss the historical tradition of Albanian independence in Vlora.

Himarrioton Society of America

The Himarriotans of America, motivated by the love of Himarra, the land of their native origin, and dedicated to the noblest ideals of their forfathers, have established this organization which aspires to the cultivation and preservation of Himarriotic culture in America, to making a positive difference in the lives of its members, and to promoting the rights and interests of the Himarriotans in Himarra, through the realization of patriotic, charitable, philanthropic, educational and cultural endeavors.

Opinion in Kosovo: "Socialists in Albania, are filo Greek"

The Chairman of the Opposition in Albania, Edi Rama, accused by the press in Kosovo that "he is with filo Greek sentiments" If, Sali Berisha, Albania's current prime minister, is expected both in Macedonia and Kosovo, as president of the Albanian nation, this has not happened with the chairman of the opposition in Albania, Edi Rama. During a recent visit to Kosovo, Edi Rama is unpopular, the fact that the perception of public opinion in Kosovo, is that the south, is the area close to Greece, but especially Rama and the Socialist Party, was accused of holding a position filo Greek, against the interests of Greater Albania.